Nigeria
Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, says the country’s leadership of the UN Fifth Committee has further elevated its diplomatic profile at the United Nations.
Ibrahim said Nigeria was now occupying a highly strategic position in discussions on the finances and administration of the global body.
He spoke in an interview with the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after presiding over his first meeting as Chairman of the UN General Assembly’s Administrative and Budgetary Committee.
According to him, Nigeria is presiding over the world budget.
“Everybody is talking about Nigeria at this moment because Nigeria is in charge of the United Nations finances and administration.”
The ambassador said Monday’s opening meeting attracted unusually strong participation from Permanent Representatives and their deputies.
“The level of representation demonstrated the significance Member States attached to the session.
“I have been told this is the highest number of PRs (Permanent Representatives) attending a budget session,” he said.
The Nigerian envoy said about 70 permanent representatives and more than 30 deputy permanent representatives attended the meeting.
“What do you think that says to Nigeria?” he asked.
The Nigerian ambassador described the chairmanship as a major diplomatic gain for the country.
He credited President Bola Tinubu with giving Nigeria the representation needed to compete effectively for leadership positions at the UN.
“It is a big congratulation to my dear country and to President Bola Tinubu,” Ibrahim said.
He noted that Nigeria’s influence within the UN system also extended to peacekeeping matters.
He said issues relating to peacekeeping financing, already featured during the committee’s opening deliberations.
Ibrahim added that Nigeria’s ability to manage the proceedings successfully demonstrated its capacity to provide effective multilateral leadership.
He also credited his previous legislative experience with helping him manage the committee’s proceedings.
According to him, experience with parliamentary procedures, interventions and use of the gavel proved useful during the meeting.
The Nigerian diplomat said the chairmanship would ultimately translate beyond prestige into influence over discussions affecting Nigeria, Africa and the wider international community.
He pledged to use the position to promote accountability, fairness, reform and responsible management of UN resources.(NAN)
